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STE Progresses with USV Payload Integration

19 Mei 2011

Venus USV (photo : Navatek)

Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE) will use a second prototype of its Venus USV to test a variety of weaponry as it seeks to extend development beyond MCM capabilities, according to company officials.

Speaking to Shephard at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) in Singapore, STE president of defence business, Thiam Beng Lau said the second 9m variant of the USV will be integrated with Oto Melara's Hitrole NT remote weapon station (RWS) comprising a .50-calibre heavy machine gun.

Lau said the company had already started integration of the RWS, adding that it was due to be completed during the second half of the year with demonstration to Singapore's armed forces by the end of 2011.

'We are in discussion with a few interested parties and are looking to secure contracts in the next two years,' Lau pledged. STE is also looking to use the second 9m prototype to integrate non-lethal weapons including water cannons as well as loud hailers.

The first 9m prototype completed sea trials in January trailing Thales MCM equipment and Lau said STE was in discussion with the Royal Singapore Navy regarding a possible acquisition strategy after it had expressed an interest in the capability.

Other members in the Venus USV family include the 11m variant which, Lau conceded, was still a 'paper design'. In addition, STE has just started development of a 16m variant, the first prototype of which would be completed by the end of the year, he concluded.

(Shephard)

Singapore Proves Vigilant in USV Strategy

18 Mei 2011

Zyvex Technologies' Vigilant/Piranha USVs (all images : Gizmag)

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will receive an undisclosed number of Zyvex Technologies' Vigilant USVs ahead of a proposed year-long evaluation, company officials have revealed.

According to Russell Belden, VP Advanced Composite Solutions at Zyvex, the RSN will kickstart an evaluation of the lightweight patrol vessel in October. However, he was unable to provide additional details due to a disclosure agreement with the navy.

Known as Piranha in the US, Vigilant is being marketed in Singapore by Zyvex's sister company ZyCraft. The 54-ft vessel weighs 8,400lbs, and is capable of carrying a 7.5-ton payload, Belden told Shephard. 'It is the Predator [UAV] on the water,' he said while highlighting potential missions such as counter-piracy, convoy protection, mine warfare and surveillance.

Currently, the RSN operates Rafael's Protector, Singapore Technologies Engineering's Venus and Spartan USVs- the latter comprising a collaboration between the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Radix Marine.

The USV completed a six-month programme of sea trials earlier in the year and made a debut at the Navy League Sea Air Space exposition in Washington, DC in April. According to Zyvex, the USV can operate for 2.5nm per gallon, allowing it to travel 2,800nm without refuelling.

Built using 'carbon fibre infused with carbon nanotubes', the vessel is capable of travelling up to a maximum speed of some 45kts and has also operated with L-3's Wescam MX-10 EO/IR payload.
Comprising over 16m in length, an 11m variant is also in development which would make it compatible with the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship programme. In addition, an 18ft version is also be considered for riverine operations, the company said.

However, it is expected that the USV will initially appear as a remotely piloted vehicle before progressing onto becoming a fully autonomous system, complete with obstacle avoidance technology.

To date, Piranha has been shown to various border patrol and customs organisations and the company said it was in discussions with 'market leaders in the USV world' for potential tie-ups in the future.

(Shephard)

QinetiQ's Blackfish Detects Divers

26 Agustus 2010

Qinetiq's Blackfish a robotic jet ski (photo : Billypix)

QinetiQ North America's Blackfish, a robotic jet ski, has completed trials in Newport, Rhode Island where it successfully detected intruding divers.

The company won a contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 2008 to develop Blackfish as part of the Integrated Swimmer Defense program to detect underwater interlopers. As part of the Rhode Island trials, Blackfish was able to detect a swimmer, or a telltale bubble cloud, during multiple attempts. ONR is evaluating the results of the trials now and could order a second vehicle, says James Murray, QinetiQ program manager.

On display at the show is a working prototype, and the company says it is production-ready.
It's a basic commercial jet ski underwater, but "everything from the waterline on up, we did," says Murray. "It's a very modular platform and makes extensive use of commercial, off-the-shelf components."

Blackfish's swimmer defense payload includes sonar, an underwater camera with light and low-speed maneuvering thrusters. Optional payloads could include nonlethal weapons, remotely fired weapons or additional sensors. It has a top speed of more than 40 knots, an operational range of 1km (0.62 miles) from its antennas, a mission endurance of 1h, and batteries that can be swapped out in less than five minutes.

(Flight International)

Singapore Reveals Protector Buy

19 Mei 2005

Protector Unmanned Surface Vessel of the Royal Singapore Navy (photo : Militaryphotos)

Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has revealed its hit her to undisclosed purchase of Rafael Protector unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to support maritime security and interdiction operations recently undertaken by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in the Northern Arabian Gulf.

The future concept of warfare at sea using UAV, USV, and UUV by Royal Singapore Navy (image : Militaryphotos)

MINDEF's house journal Pioneer acknowledged that a small number of USVs were acquired from Rafael last year to operate from the landing ship RSS Resolution during its three-month deployment to the Gulf, which completed in March [2005]. During its time in theatre, Resolution was tasked with assisting the protection of the Al-Basrah Oil Terminal from terrorist attacks.

(Jane’s)

Singapore Navy Unveils Remote-Controlled Vessels

17 Mei 2005

Spartan-Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) of the Royal Singapore Navy (photo : Militaryphotos)

Singapore unveiled on Tuesday a fleet of remote-controlled vessels, which Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said would give the city-state a high-tech boost in the battle against maritime piracy and terrorism.

The two-tonne Spartan Scout Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV), which can be operated from a main warship, can be individually configured to carry out a range of missions including surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.

Teo, who witnessed a "live" demonstration of the Spartan's capabilities, said the remote-controlled vessels would strengthen Singapore's anti-piracy measures.

"The USVs allows ships to deploy such a vessel without getting the men into too close contact with a suspicious boat, which may have undesirable intentions," Teo told reporters after the demonstration.

Singapore is developing the Spartan in conjunction with the US Navy and expects to begin testing the vessels in local waters this year, the defence ministry said.

A less-equipped USV fleet that Singapore bought, the Protector series, is already in operation and was recently deployed by the Singapore navy during a deployment near Iraq to help US-led forces, according to the defence ministry.

Both fleets were presented to the media on the first day of Imdex Asia 2005, a regional maritime conference showcasing the latest maritime defence technologies and products of 23 countries.

Speaking earlier at the conference's opening ceremony, Teo, referring to the USVs as an example, said regional navies should engage in technological collaboration to combat pirates and potential terrorists lurking in the region's waters.

"We need to develop new technological applications for more effective ways of carrying out our maritime security missions," he said.

"In particular, unmanned surface vehicles can offer safer and more effective responses to maritime threats."

Teo did not say how much the USVs cost nor exactly how many Protectors the Singapore navy had, describing the fleet only as "small". No details were given on how far the USVs can operate from the main warship.

(AFP)